Before you put yourself through the drudgery of going down to your local Social Security office, check the Social Security website to see if you can take care of your problem without going in.  

There are a lot of things you can take care of online.

Did you know you can do all of the following at the Social Security website?

• Apply for retirement benefits.
• Apply for disability benefits.
• Check your application status.
• Appeal a recent decision / denial.
• Find out what benefits you can apply for.
• Find out if you can get extra help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.
• Estimate your future retirement benefits.
• Find your full retirement age.
• Estimate your disability and survivors benefits.
• Request a Social Security Statement.
• Change your address or telephone number.
• Get a replacement Medicare card.
• Request a Proof of Income letter to verify Social Security benefit information.

Click for more information about what you can do online at Social Security.

Social Security has a great website that describes the hearing process including how to file an appeal, what happens at a hearing, and how to file a complaint if you feel you have been mistreated by an Administrative Law Judge.

There are even several examples of how monthly benefits are calculated. 

 photo credit: Incase Designs

The Cornell Legal Information Institute Social Security Library is a great top level clearing house for information about the Social Security system, regulations, rulings and court decisions.

However, this is a professional level resource and does not ease you into the Social Security system. But if you want to find a particular law, regulation, or ruling, this is a great site to track it down.

If you are looking for a more friendly resource, try the Online Social Security Handbook.

You can check your annual Social Security statment (mailed annually before your birthday) for a rough idea.

Or you can use Social Security’s on-line benefit calculator.